🩸 Horror Fiction

The Three Impostors

✍️ Arthur Machen
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$9.99
Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

The Secret Glory
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Arthur Machen
The Secret Glory
$9.99
86
The House of Souls
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Arthur Machen
The House of Souls
$9.99
86
Secrets in the Forest
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
William Dwyer
Secrets in the Forest
$13.99
81
Obsessed With The Kill
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Tj Weeks
Obsessed With The Kill
$15.43
78
To Thunderous Applause
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Keith C Blackmore
To Thunderous Applause
$30.99
81
A Taste of Jasmine
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Corbin Dailey
A Taste of Jasmine
$16.99
86
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of interconnected horror stories exploring deception and supernatural dread.

This volume gathers Arthur Machen’s short fiction under a unified thematic umbrella. The publisher Browntrout released this edition in 2018 to make these works accessible to modern audiences. Each story functions independently yet connects through the central motif of imposture. Machen demonstrates a talent for building suspense across separate narratives. The collection draws on gothic and supernatural traditions to create an atmosphere of unease. It does not rely on plot summaries but rather on mood and thematic resonance. Readers interested in the mechanics of fear will find value in how these tales interlock. The format allows for non-linear reading while rewarding those who notice the underlying connections. This edition preserves the integrity of Machen’s original vision.

Key Themes
imposture horror fiction supernatural themes
Literary Context

Arthur Machen wrote during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a period known for its exploration of the supernatural and gothic elements in literature. This 2018 edition by Browntrout Publishers brings his work to contemporary readers interested in classic horror traditions.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
M.R. James · H.P. Lovecraft · Shirley Jackson · Algernon Blackwood
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Browntrout Publishers 📅 2018 📖 192 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781783612383

📝 Description: The Three Impostors

Arthur Machen presents a collection of short stories bound by the theme of imposture. These tales operate as standalone horror fiction while maintaining a thread of mounting suspense through their shared subject matter. The publisher Browntrout released this volume in 2018, bringing together works that explore the unsettling nature of deception and hidden identities within the supernatural genre. Readers seeking classic gothic atmosphere will find these narratives aligned with established traditions of eerie storytelling. The book suits those who appreciate interconnected thematic structures in horror literature. It may not appeal to readers preferring single long-form novels or contemporary fast-paced thrillers. Machen’s skill lies in weaving these distinct accounts into a cohesive whole without losing the individual impact of each piece. The ISBN 9781783612383 identifies this specific edition for collectors and libraries. Each story contributes to a larger exploration of how appearances can mask terrifying realities. The text remains faithful to the original intent of presenting bizarre and mysterious scenarios that challenge the reader’s sense of security.

💎 Our verdict on The Three Impostors

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Machen demonstrates a masterful ability to weave distinct accounts into a cohesive whole, maintaining the individual impact of each tale while building a cumulative sense of dread. The collection excels in creating an atmosphere of unease through its focus on imposture and hidden realities. It suits readers who appreciate interconnected thematic structures in horror literature and enjoy non-linear reading experiences that reward attention to detail. Those preferring fast-paced contemporary thrillers may find the pace deliberate, but fans of classic gothic and psychological horror will recognize the skill in preserving the original vision. The edition successfully makes these works accessible, highlighting the terrifying power of appearances masking reality.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the subtle mechanics of fear and the architecture of suspense will find significant value in this collection. It is ideal for those who enjoy horror that relies on mood, thematic resonance, and the slow burn of unease rather than immediate shock. The interconnected nature of the stories rewards attentive readers who wish to trace the underlying connections between deception and supernatural dread. Those interested in the evolution of gothic traditions and the exploration of hidden identities within the eerie will find these narratives compelling. It serves as a bridge for modern audiences seeking accessible entry points into classic supernatural literature without sacrificing the integrity of the original atmospheric intent.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Machen demonstrates a masterful ability to weave distinct accounts into a cohesive whole, maintaining the individual impact of each tale while building a cumulative sense of dread. The collection excels in creating an atmosphere of unease through its focus on imposture and hidden realities. It suits readers who appreciate interconnected thematic structures in horror literature and enjoy non-linear reading experiences that reward attention to detail. Those preferring fast-paced contemporary thrillers may find the pace deliberate, but fans of classic gothic and psychological horror will recognize the skill in preserving the original vision. The edition successfully makes these works accessible, highlighting the terrifying power of appearances masking reality.

📖 From the series “Essential Gothic, SF & Dark Fantasy”

Dracula: A Mystery Story
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Bram Stoker
Dracula: A Mystery Story
$10.99
86
Read →
The House of the Seven Gables
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Nathaniel Hawthorne
The House of the Seven Gables
$9.99
81
Read →
The Empty House, and Other Ghost Stories
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Algernon Blackwood
The Empty House, and Other Ghost Stories
$9.99
86
Read →

✍️ More books by this author Arthur Machen

Le cercle vert: suivi de N et autres recits
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Arthur Machen
Le cercle vert: suivi de N et autres recits
$33.50
86
Read →
The Three Impostors; or, The Transmutations (Cram Edition)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Arthur Machen
The Three Impostors; or, The Transmutations (Cram Edition)
$20.95
86
Read →
El pueblo blanco y otros relatos de lo innombrable
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Arthur Machen
El pueblo blanco y otros relatos de lo innombrable
$15.37
86
Read →
The House of Souls (Cram Edition)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Arthur Machen
The House of Souls (Cram Edition)
$23.95
81
Read →
The House of Souls
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Arthur Machen
The House of Souls
$31.95
86
Read →
The Terror
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Arthur Machen
The Terror
$15.95
86
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Browntrout Publishers

Dracula: A Mystery Story
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Bram Stoker
Dracula: A Mystery Story
$10.99
86
Read →

You might also like

See more →
The Secret Glory
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Arthur Machen
The Secret Glory
$9.99
86
Read →
The House of Souls
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Arthur Machen
The House of Souls
$9.99
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist